An effective onboarding process helps new hires feel welcome, supported, and equipped for success. These activities elevate engagement, productivity, and performance. They also strengthen job satisfaction, employee morale, and retention.
A strong onboarding process ensures new hires:
- Build relationships with colleagues, coworkers, and managers for a supportive network.
- Align behavior with the company’s mission, vision, and values.
- Have clear job duties, responsibilities, goals, expectations, and performance metrics to support organizational success.
- Understand and comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
Improving your onboarding process contributes to a more productive new year. The following suggestions can help.
Streamline Your Onboarding Process
Implement tools and technologies to store information, access resources, and enhance your onboarding process:
- Onboarding software streamlines and automates your onboarding process.
- HR management tools such as Bamboo HR provide a platform to manage employee data, automate administrative tasks, and track onboarding progress.
- Communication tools such as Slack provide instant messaging, videoconferencing, and file-sharing for collaboration among new hires, team members, and managers.
- Project management tools such as Asana help organize and track onboarding tasks and activities.
- Visual collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams provide virtual spaces for teams to brainstorm and share information.
- Learning management systems deliver and track training materials and courses.
Create a Plan for Each Onboarding Phase
Detail the new hire activities and information for the first day, week, 90 days, and year. Break down each stage with goals and resources to fit your business needs.
Example activities include:
- Before Day 1: Send a welcome email with the new hire’s start date, dress code, pre-employment paperwork, and other important information.
- Day 1: Schedule a robust orientation session introducing the new hire to the company’s mission, vision, and values.
- Week 1: Provide an overview of the team’s structure, roles, and responsibilities.
- First 90 Days: Clarify the new hire’s goals, expectations, and performance metrics.
- First Year: Conduct performance reviews to assess the new hire’s progress and provide constructive feedback.
Emphasize Company Culture
The following activities help new hires acclimate to your company’s culture:
- Provide a welcome package with a letter from the CEO and branded merchandise.
- Share a handbook about your company’s history, values, and traditions that shape its identity.
- Have a senior leader share examples and stories illustrating your company’s mission, vision, and values.
- Use meet-and-greets, team-building activities, and storytelling sessions to introduce new hires to your company’s culture.
Share Workflows and Team Processes
Flowcharts, diagrams, process maps, and other visual representations clarify how workflows and processes function. They break down complex information so new hires understand the steps, dependencies, and interactions.
Check in at Milestones
Regularly meet with new hires to discuss their progress, answer questions, and provide constructive feedback. Address concerns, provide support, and adjust your onboarding process as needed.
Is It Time to Start Hiring?
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